As federal forces intensified their recruitment of black soldiers, Confederate military commanders demanded that slaves be removed from areas subject to recruiting raids, especially the man's-land between Union and Confederate lines. Slaveholders, however, saw much to lose in any attempt at forcible relocation. When the secretary of war asked the Virginia House of Delegates to sanction such measures, the chairman of its Committee on Confederate Relations reported strenuous objections. The proposed evacuation would almost certainly fail, his colleagues believed. And even if it succeeded, the evacuated slaves would spread to their counterparts in the interior the poison of insubordination they had imbibed from the Yankees.

Richmond, Va.
January 13 1864

Sir

Your communication, to me, of the [illegible]inviting attention of the Legislature to the policy of withdrawing all able bodied male slaves from within the enemies' lines, and without our own, liable to seizure by them, through the intervention of our own forces, was referred to the Committee of Confederate Relations, and has received from them the attention its importance demands. They have considered the subject in both the aspects in which you presented it viz: The saving the property of our citizens, and the defeating of the enemy's design of recruiting a black force within the limits indicated, and have invited and obtained the expression of the views of a large number of the member[s] of the House, representing the counties more immediately interested, as to the effects likely to be produced by the adoption of the policy suggested. They represent that within the enemies lines the number of slaves left at their homes, fit for military service, is now very limited--forcibly or voluntarily the great bulk of them of that description having already gone to the enemy: That the few remaining are retained, generally, by strong local or family, attachments, but none by any motive which would not yield to the aversion they entertain to be forced away from their homes within our lines, and employed on our public works. That they are so scattered, that but a very small proportion could be captured, if any, by a military raiding party before they would fly to the woods, or to the enemy, soon to be followed by their families, whose labor and assistance is now so invaluable to the loyal whites (chiefly females and children) still remaining in the enemies lines would be attended with the most deplorable consequences. That many of those citizens would be left in great extremity for support if they remained, or exposed to great loss and suffering, if they removed, besides, by coming further into the interior, increasing the existing pressure on our already overtaxed means of subsistence. The fear was also expressed by some of the gentleman who favored the Committee with their views, that the loss of their still remaining slaves, occasioned by such an intervention of the Government, might lead, however injustifiably, to alienating from our cause persons now friendly to it. The effects, on the slaves of the interior, of bringing amongst them, so far as the measure should prove successful, those who had become imbued by the enemy with ideas and habits, but little consistent with the obedience and subordination proper to their condition, and necessary to the peace and safety of whites, was strongly urged as dissuading from the adoption of the policy under consideration. In respect to the consequences of such a measure as applied to the districts, between our lines, and those of the enemy, the gentlemen representing them thought the effects would be similar to those above presented. While in them a plan might be adopted, no doubt, attended with more success for getting possession of the slaves than in the other case, yet they believe large numbers would attempt successfully to escape to the enemy, while it would be the signal for the immediate stampede into the enemys camps of all the slaves within their lines. There was no difference of opinion as to the general opposition of the owners to the plan, nor as to its resulting in a greater loss of slave property to the state than would ensue by leaving the owners pursue the best measures in their power to save them as exigencies might recommend. Not considering that the communication received from you was intended so much to indicate a line of policy determined on, as to invite a conference, and comparison of views, with those most interested in it,in regard to its expediency, the committee have instructed me to lay before you the facts and views herein communicated for your consideration, before adopting any conclusions, or taking any definite action, on the subject. They should probably say, however, that they so far feel the force of them as to be disinclined to recommend to the favor of the House the policy of a forcible withdrawal of the slaves from the Quarters of the state embraced by your suggestion, by the military intervention of the Confederate Government.